Lion Dung

Updated on June 23, 2011

Lion Dung Cat Repellent

Lion Dung is very popular in some quarters as a cat repellent. The lion dung is obtained from the local zoo and then placed in strategic locations around gardens to keep domestic cats at bay. If lion dung is not available then Tiger or Leopard feces is just as effective.

The science behind this method of keeping cats out of the home garden is that the scent signal given out by a much larger predatory feline is likely to warn other smaller ones away. Most animals are territorial markers and other animals recognise these in the same way as humans would when coming across a sign which said "Warning, Keep Out, Enter At Your Own Risk".

The use of Lion Dung as a repellent is not confined to repelling domestic cats. It is also used to deter deer, otters and badgers.

Warning - Enter At Your Own Risk

Does Lion Dung Work?

During my 40 year zoo career I have frequently supplied Lion Dung to members of the public as a domestic cat deterrent. Although I have never ever used it myself to keep domestic cats away I have asked people to let me know if it has worked. Those who bother to get back say that it has.

One estate manager collected a sack full of the stuff on a regular basis to keep deer away from plantations of young trees. He said that regular renewal was important as rain and the elements quickly reduced the effectiveness.

Some people are not too bothered about neighborhood cats visiting their gardens. Others are only bottered when fresh seedlings have been planted or perhaps when birds are nesting in the shrubbery. Lion Dung can be applied once a week at points around the garden perimeter to keep the cats away.

Within a zoo setting I used Lion Dung with great success to keep badgers Meles meles away from certain locations. Badgers are very capable diggers and can cause considerable damage if allowed to do their business unchecked. A small pile of Lion or Tiger Dung gets them to move on somewhere else.

Producing Cat Repellent

Source

Unpleasant

Lion Dung does smell and has strong ammonia like properties. It is not the most pleasant stuff to work with. Gloves are advisable. There is no guarantee that it will work for all. Some domestic cats are not even going to give way to the scent of a lion.

Today there are a number of companies which actually sell Lion dung in a much more hygienic and pleasant pelleted form. Lion Dung as a cat repellent definitely works for some.

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